BROSSARD – Montreal Canadiens General Manager Kent Hughes announced on Friday that the team has acquired goaltender Hunter Shepard and forward Jake Chiasson from the Ottawa Senators. In exchange, Montreal sends forward Riley Kidney to the nation’s capital.
A New Face in the Crease
The acquisition of Hunter Shepard provides the Canadiens with an experienced insurance policy in net. The 30-year-old goaltender has spent the majority of this season in the AHL with the Belleville Senators, posting a 6-7-2 record over 15 games. Shepard brings a steady veteran presence to the organization, having appeared in six career NHL games split between the Washington Capitals and the Senators, where he holds a 2-3-1 record.
Size and Potential Up Front
Joining Shepard is 22-year-old forward Jake Chiasson. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 181 lbs, the Abbotsford, BC native adds size to the Habs’ system. Originally a fourth-round pick by the Edmonton Oilers in 2021, Chiasson has recorded one assist in 20 AHL games this season. He also showed offensive flashes in the ECHL with the Allen Americans earlier this year, tallying eight points in 16 appearances.
The Cost of the Deal
To facilitate the trade, Montreal parts ways with Riley Kidney. The young forward, who was once a highly-touted prospect in the Canadiens’ system, will now look for a fresh start within the Senators’ organization. This «change of scenery» trade allows Hughes to balance the roster’s needs, specifically reinforcing the goaltending stable as the season enters its final stretch.